Paradise Pack by developing skills for business and travel, this travel-hacking and soul-searching set of online courses opened me up to a whole world of connections and inspirational people living location independent.

What are your favorite memories of 2018? (Top Life-Changing Family Memory)

The birth of my Nephew, Joseph Padrick Calvert. My sister, Melody and brother-in-law, Dan, have always been supportive of me and my work. I grew closer to my sister in the past seven years and I felt very lucky to be able to spend time with my sister in the hospital before and after the birth of their first child. Being an aunt has given me a new perspective on life, and has made me realize that I want to be less selfish, and more conscious of my words and actions with others. I want to lead by setting a great example of what life is really all about for my new favorite nephew.

What did you accomplish or complete this year? Books Read this year– I am not an avid book-reader and to have read the most inspiring and motivating books of my life this past year has kept me focused on goals, and achieving success. Some of my favorite quotes are below.

“In times of pain, when the future is too terrifying to contemplate and the past too painful to remember, I have learned to pay attention to right now. The precise moment I was in was always the only safe place for me.” ― Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way

Did you make any progress on long-term goals?

Paid Off my Car(2012 Honda Civic)! – Woohoo!I’m very, very close to being debt-free!!

What felt successful about the year, as a whole?

Letting Go! -(Of my past self) I’m ready to let go of the old story and step into my new story, it’s a fresh, clean slate, with no regrets going forward! I know I’m capable of doing amazing things, and I’ll start doing them, in each moment! I don’t need to share my history of self-defeat, victimhood, and self-limiting beliefs, because that’s not who I am, I’m someone who takes responsibility for my actions, good, or bad. Facing them head-on and being fearlessly truthful to myself and others.

Did you overcome any obstacles or mental blocks this year?

Yes, didn’t we all?? But honestly, It has been an amazing and emotional year.I struggled with self-limiting believes of what I am capable of doing, and how I can act, and react. I’ve struggled with loneliness and found joy in alone time for the first time in my life. That’s the biggest thing, enjoying my own company and realizing I’m enough, I don’t need anything or anyone else to be happy. I can choose to be happy in my home, all by myself, with a good book, with myself on a hike, and out in nature, becoming one with the wind, and finding myself funny. (My inner dialogue has a great sense of humor, it’s just that I don’t really express that in words to others…) The big take away? I worked on how I deal with and relate to food in my life. In past, it was an emotional crutch, and I’ve recognized that I’m still working through the challenges that food and I have; the dance we do, and the conversation I have about it in my head.

I take myself WAY too seriously... Chill out Deb, life is about living, and having fun, even if that fun ends up with me spending five hours in the river and paddling for my life to shore. I want to enjoy and laugh more!

How are you really doing right now?

I’m struggling with finding my path back to focus and drive. I’ve lost my way in the past few months if I’m being completely honest (which I am). This year has taken some curves and had some amazing things that I’ve taken on, and now I’m gearing up to really push myself, but feeling fear can be a mental roadblock. I KNOW I will push through this moment and will do amazing things going forward, it is scary knowing that I’ll never, ever be the person I once was, a couch-potato, saying “One Day”… I’m creating change in my life, and sometimes that’s the scariest and most inspiring part of the journey of life.

What is the purpose of your business now, in comparison to January?

At the beginning of this year, I closed the book on my photography business for all public projects.I decided that I’d be focusing on myself and not allowing myself to negotiate a wedding or portrait shoot, knowing that I need this year to dedicate to finding out what is really the direction of the business. I knew that I no longer wanted to run a business that was location-dependent (Harrisburg-based). It wasn’t until I was introduced to the Location Indie group, and through the event that took me to Denver, that I decided to start focusing my efforts towards being a true travel blogger. Up until then, I’d been doing nature and landscape photographs and writing about my trail/hiking experiences. In 2017 I discovered that I enjoyed sharing some deeper lessons I’d learned while hiking, and I’ve continued that conversation on my blog this year. Now I’ve begun writing for Travel Pulse, and plan to expand to more travel writing in the next year. This will be part of the new business I develop so that I’m able to travel and continue to write, and share my experiences.

Who nurtured or supported you most this year?

The Location Indie group has been my guide since the spring. I’ve learned so much from some many of the people in this group. Some of them have directly spent time with me, messaged me when I’m feeling depressed and got on a call with me to help with my travel writing stories and have been my support system in so many ways. They’ve been my truest friends and supporters. They’ve inspired me to work harder, do more, and be my best self. I can’t express in words how much this community and these people have helped me get through the past year.

Who did you enjoy nurturing and supporting?

My best friend Jen and I have weekly phone calls every Monday. Jen and I have supported each other and respected each other and become even closer in the past year. She’s told me that I inspire her and that we always have deep, meaningful conversations that she’s come to rely on from me. I feel it’s important to bring my best self to our conversations and it challenges me to level up. LOVE my girl and all the amazing things she’s doing in her life. I’m so thankful we spent a weekend in New York at Watkins Glen.

Are there any outstanding goals you’d like to let go of?

Trying to do it all… I want to give myself time. I want to let go of the idea that everything has to be figured out right now, and accept that everything happens in the right amount of time. 🙂